Entitlement

We’re all entitled to things. I’m entitled to this cup of tea I made. I’m entitled to receive my textbooks I bought online within the next 4-6 business days. I’m entitled to not getting the car I paid for smashed into. I’m entitled to have my place in the classes I signed up and paid for.

But most importantly, I’m entitled to my body. And is it really so hard for men, the government, and my health care provider to let me keep this entitlement?

If you didn’t know, a little over a week ago George Sodini shot 12 women, killing 3, a little over a week ago. Why? Because he was frustrated since no woman was willing to go out with him. (Jessica posted about it , but I thought I’d recap anyway.)

Men’s Rights Activists are defending him by saying he was A Nice Guy.

A decent looking man who earns a good living and does not abuse women DESERVES to get laid. Period.

(There are more comments about Sodini at the link)

Even if we give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he was Prince Charming, had oodles and oodles of money, and was just the nicest guy that there ever could be, does that really take my bodily entitlement away? The problem with Sodini and the problem with those MRAs who made those comments is that they don’t see women as individuals who can decide what they chose to do with their lives and bodies — they see women as objects that they "deserve."

Sodini’s sentiments are not unique. They are the very heart of MRA ideology and conservative politics. True, most MRAs and social conservatives don’t go around shooting random women, but how far is the leap from saying "Women are not entitled to reject me if I’m a good guy" to "Women are not entitled choose who they have sex with if they’re wearing a skirt or walking down a dark street alone" to "Women are not entitled to decide if they want to use birth control or get an abortion."

If there are people in this world willing to defend George Sodini, then how far away has my bodily entitlement slipped?